Filmmakers

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class="active">FILMMAKERS</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="sidebar-search"> <div class="sidebar-searchtitle">MOVIE RATING SEARCH</div> <div class="sidebar-search-top"> <form method="get" action="/Search"> <input type="text" name="filmTitle" placeholder="TITLE OF FILM" class="sidebar-search-title"> <input type="image" src="/Images/search_button.png"> </form> </div> <div class="sidebar-search-bottom"> <form method="get" action="/Search"> <input type="text" name="filmYear" placeholder="YEAR" class="sidebar-search-year"> <select name="filmRating" class="sidebar-search-rating"> <option id="phRating" selected="selected">RATING</option> <option value="G">G</option> <option value="PG">PG</option> <option value="PG-13">PG-13</option> <option value="R">R</option> <option value="NC-17">NC-17</option> <option value="X">X</option> <option value="GP">GP</option> <option value="M">M</option> <option value="M/PG">M/PG</option> </select><input type="image" src="/Images/search_button.png"> </form> </div> </div> </div> <div id="topContent" class="col-sm-9"> <h1>FILM SUBMISSIONS FOR RATINGS</h1> <p>The Classification and Rating Administration (“CARA”) issues ratings for motion pictures exhibited and distributed commercially to the public in the United States, with the intent to provide parents information concerning the content of those motion pictures, to aid them in determining the suitability of individual motion pictures for viewing by their children. CARA will rate any motion picture at any time before or after it is exhibited or distributed in the United States.</p> <p>Please click the button below to start the submission process or visit: https://www.carafilmratings.com for more information</p> <p class="nomargintop"><a href="https://www.carafilmratings.com/" class="btn btn-primary">START THE SUBMISSION PROCESS</a></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <h2>FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)</h2> <h3>LOG-IN</h3> <h5>DO YOU NEED TO HAVE AN ONLINE PROFILE CREATED IN ORDER TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION ONLINE?</h5> <p>Yes. In order for CARA to communicate and coordinate with the submitter during the entire application process, we need an email address(es) with proper credentials to correspond securely.</p> <h5>HOW LONG DOES MY PASSWORD HAVE TO BE?</h5> <p>The password should be 9 digits in length, with a minimum of 1 capital letter, 1 number and 1 character combination.</p> <h5>IF I AM PARTICIPATING IN A SUBMISSION, DO I NEED PERMISSION FROM THE ADMINISTRATOR?</h5> <p>Yes, to protect proprietary information, a participant will need permission from the Administrator to access submission history and status.</p> <h3>FILM SCREENING</h3> <h5>IS AN EARLIER SCREENING DATE REQUEST POSSIBLE IF I HAVE A SCHEDULED SCREENING DATE ALREADY?</h5> <p>Yes, we will do our best to accommodate your request, as long as all required information and agreements have been submitted.</p> <h5>WHEN AND WHERE SHOULD I SEND MY SCREENERS?</h5> <p>If your film is completely finished, you can send in your screeners at any time. Please do NOT send in your screener if it is still a work-in-progress. The screeners should be delivered to:</p> <p> <em> <strong>Classification And Rating Administration</strong><br /> Attn: CARA/MPA<br /> 15301 Ventura Blvd., Building E<br /> Sherman Oaks, CA 91403<br /> </em> </p> <p>Pickup and Drop Offs must be made at the Loading Dock E between 8:30AM – 5:00PM. Film/screeners may be delivered the day before or any time prior to the motion picture screening date between 8:30AM to 9:00AM, and the film/screener must be picked up by 5:00PM on the day of the screening unless other arrangements have been made. For security purposes, we issue a “pick-up” number the day of the screening to the Submitter. If you are sending a courier service to pick up the film/screener, please make sure they have the film title <u>and</u> the pick- up number; otherwise, the film/screener will not be released.</p> <ul> <li>All screeners, regardless of format, which have a non-visible time code must start at 00:00:00.</li> <li>All screeners, regardless of format, must indicate a run time.</li> <li>Submission on DVD should include two screeners, in the event one is faulty.</li> </ul> </div> <section class="bggray"> <div class="container"> <h5 style="margin-top: 15px;">WHAT SCREENING FORMATS DOES CARA ACCEPT?</h5> <ul> <li>Digital Screeners: PIX, 5th Kind, Indee, Moxion, CineSend and DAX/Clear</li> <li>Hard Drive Screeners: 3D or 2D</li> <li>Standard definition DVDs and Blu-Ray Disc; CARA cannot screen consumer Blu-Ray 3D Discs</li> </ul> <p>If your film is completely finished, you can send in your screeners at any time. Please do NOT send in your screener if it is still a work-in-progress. </p> <p>Please make sure the DVD is copied as close to the Master as possible. Poor quality screeners will be rejected.</p> <p><strong>Security disclaimers</strong> must be located at the top or bottom of the frame and no larger than a 10 pt. font. <strong>Any screener with a disclaimer running too far inside the frame will be rejected</strong>.</p> <h5>HOW LONG AFTER THE FILM IS SCREENED WILL I RECEIVE MY RATING?</h5> <p>You can expect CARA to contact you within 24 hours after screening. The rating decision will be communicated to the rating contact specified on the application.</p> <h5>WHEN DO I SEND TRAILERS AND PROMOTIONAL MATERIALS, ALONG WITH GRAPHICS, TO BE APPROVED? IS THERE A FEE?</h5> <p>Promotional materials can be sent to our Advertising Department (<a href="mailto:advertising@motionpictures.org">advertising@motionpictures.org</a>) at any time. There is no fee associated with the review as it is included in the Submittal Fee.</p> <h5>MY FILM IS IN POST-PRODUCTION, AND I DO NOT HAVE AN ACCURATE RUN TIME. WHAT SHOULD I DO?</h5> <p>Your best estimate is sufficient. Please advise CARA of the accurate run time once known.</p> </div> </section> <section class="bgltblue"> <div class="container"> <h3>FILM RATING</h3> <h5>DO I HAVE TO HAVE MY FILM RATED IN THE UNITED STATES?</h5> <p>The rating system in the United States is a voluntary system.</p> <h5>HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET A FILM RATED?</h5> <p>Once CARA receives the completed submission, CARA will advise on the next earliest screening date.</p> <h5>WHEN WILL I RECEIVE THE RATING CERTIFICATE?</h5> <p>You should expect to receive the ratings certificate within 48 hours after the rating is accepted.</p> <h3>PAYMENT</h3> <h5>WHO CAN SUBMIT A PAYMENT FOR THE SUBMISSION?</h5> <p>Anyone may make a payment as long as an invoice number and the film title are referenced for accurate posting.</p> <h5>WHEN IS MY PAYMENT DUE?</h5> <p>The payment is due 15 business days prior to the scheduled screening date.</p> <h5>WHAT METHODS OF PAYMENT ARE ACCEPTED?</h5> <p>Wire transfers/ACH payments and checks are accepted. Cashier's Check</p> <h5>MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:</h5> <ul> <li>Classification and Rating Administration (CARA)</li> <li>Motion Picture Association (MPA)</li> </ul> <h5>HOW CAN I REQUEST A W-9 FORM?</h5> <p>For a W-9 form, please send an email request to <a href="mailto:caraadmin@motionpictures.org">caraadmin@motionpictures.org</a>.</p> </div> </section> <section class="bggray"> <div class="container"> <h5 style="margin-top: 15px;">WHAT ARE THE MAIN DIFFERENCES AMONG CATEGORIES A, B, AND C?</h5> <h6>CATEGORY A</h6> <strong>FILMS WHICH MEET <span style="color: #ff0000">AT LEAST ONE</span> OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:</strong><br/> <ul> <li>Submitter involved with the production or financing of the film in any way</li> <li>Submitter’s or distributor's aggregate gross revenues for the production, financing, and/or distribution of motion pictures for the prior calendar or fiscal year are more than $5,000,000</li> <li>Film does not meet the criteria for Category B submission</li> </ul> <h6>CATEGORY B</h6> <strong>FILMS WHICH MEET <span style="color: #ff0000">ALL</span> OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:</strong><br/> <ul> <li>Submitter is NOT involved in any way whatsoever with the production or financing of the film</li> <li>Submitter’s aggregate gross revenues for the production, financing, or distribution of motion pictures for the prior calendar or fiscal year is less than $5,000,000</li> <li>The motion picture being distributed has a negative cost less than $15,000,000</li> </ul> <h6>CATEGORY C</h6> <strong>FILMS WHICH MEET <span style="color: #ff0000">ONE</span> OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:</strong><br /> <ul> <li>Films previously certified by CARA and being submitted for re-rating or re-screening prior to their exhibition or distribution</li> <li>Re-issued films originally released prior to November 1, 1968 which have not previously been rated</li> <li>Short films under 30 minutes</li> </ul> </div> </section> <div class="container"> <h3>FEE SCHEDULE</h3> <p>Below is the fee schedule based on the Categories mentioned above:</p> <div class="feeschedule-container"> <table class="feeschedule table-bordered"> <tbody> <tr> <th>Class</th> <th>Negative Cost</th> <th>Fee</th> </tr> <tr> <td>A-1</td> <td>> $75M</td> <td>$27,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>A-2</td> <td>$40M to $74.999M</td> <td>$21,500</td> </tr> <tr> <td>A-3</td> <td>$15M to $39.999M</td> <td>$16,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>A-4</td> <td>$5M to $14.999M</td> <td>$8,500</td> </tr> <tr> <td>A-5</td> <td>$500K to $4.999M</td> <td>$5,250</td> </tr> <tr> <td>A-6</td> <td>< $500K</td> <td>$3,150</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="feeschedule table-bordered"> <tbody> <tr> <th>Class</th> <th>Negative Cost</th> <th>Fee</th> </tr> <tr> <td>B-1</td> <td>$12M to $14.999M</td> <td>$7,500</td> </tr> <tr> <td>B-2</td> <td>$8M to $11.999M</td> <td>$5,300</td> </tr> <tr> <td>B-3</td> <td>$4M to $7.999M</td> <td>$4,200</td> </tr> <tr> <td>B-4</td> <td>$1.5M to $3.999M</td> <td>$3,150</td> </tr> <tr> <td>B-5</td> <td>$500K to $1.4999M</td> <td>$2,800</td> </tr> <tr> <td>B-6</td> <td>< $500K</td> <td>$2,600</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <table class="feeschedule table-bordered"> <tbody> <tr> <th>Class</th> <th>Negative Cost</th> <th>Fee</th> </tr> <tr> <td>C-1</td> <td>Re-rate/Re-screen</td> <td>$2,700</td> </tr> <tr> <td>C-2</td> <td>Re-issue</td> <td>$2,700</td> </tr> <tr> <td>C-3</td> <td>Short Subject</td> <td>$800</td> </tr> <tr> <td>C-4</td> <td>Re-Rate due to Obsolete Rating Symbol</td> <td>N/C</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> <h6 style="max-width:500px; text-align: center; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 15px;"> NOTE: THE NEGATIVE COST REPRESENTS THE TOTAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PRODUCING A FILM. </h6> </div> <section class="bgltblue"> <div class="container"> <h3>ADDITIONAL INFORMATION</h3> <h5>WHEN IS EIDR AND ISAN?</h5> <p>EIDR and ISAN are non-required fields located on the “Film Details” page of any submission relating to identification numbers for submitted intellectual property. More information can be found as part of the following links.</p> <ul> <li>EIDR – <a href="http://eidr.org/" target="_blank">http://eidr.org/</a></li> <li>ISAN – <a href="http://www.isan.org/" target="_blank">http://www.isan.org/</a></li> </ul> <h3>CONTACT US</h3> <p>If you have additional questions not answered in our video tutorial and in this FAQ, please contact us:</p> <ul> <li>Email us at <a href="mailto:caraadmin@motionpictures.org">caraadmin@motionpictures.org</a></li> <li>Call us at 818-995-6600</li> </ul> </div> </section> <section id="link-boxes"> <div class="container"> <div class="row row-centered"> <a href="/Content/Downloads/cara_rating_bulletin.pdf" target="_blank"><img src="/Images/box-weekly-ratings-bulletin.png" /></a> <a href="/Contact"><img src="/Images/box-contact-us.png" /></a> <a href="..//RedCarpetSignIn/SignIn" target="_blank"><img src="/Images/box-red-carpet-ratings.png" /></a> </div> </div> </section><footer> <div class="container"> <div class="col-md-9"> <a href="https://www.motionpictures.org/"><img src="/Images/mpaa-logo.png" style="height:30px; margin: 8px 8px 10px 0;" />VISIT MOTIONPICTURES.ORG</a> <br/> <ul class="footer-left"> <li><a href="/Contact/">Contact Us</a></li> <li>|</li> <li><a href="/About/Terms">Terms of Use</a></li> <li>|</li> <li><a href="/About/Privacy">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li>|</li> <li>™ & © 1986  2025 MPA. 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Filmmakers